F Series Medium Comebacks
 

Hi,

In 1983, Ford revived some classic model designations for its medium and heavy-duty F-series lines: the F-8000, which had originally been superseded for 1970 by the Louisville Line L-8000 (this had followed the lead of its gas-powered F-800 counterpart (the original version of which was replaced in 1970 by the L-800) in being redesignated from the F-880, which had occurred early in the 1977 calendar year); the FT-8000 (an F-8000 with a tandem rear axle), which originally started life in 1963 as the T-8000 and then was replaced for 1970 by the L-Line LT-8000; and the FT-900, which traces its lineage to that of the original T-900 and its early '60s successors, the T-850/950, and also had an associated L-Line replacement for 1970 as the LT-900. The B-7000 bus chassis also made its comeback after a five-year hiatus. However, the revived FT-900 would prove to be short-lived.

The revived F- and FT-8000, and the B-7000 bus chassis, employed a standard Cat 3208 diesel engine of 175 hp (this was in keeping with Ford's policy since 1970 to catalog all diesel-powered medium model designations with an extra zero to denote Cat diesel power, although in a few instances during those early years, some operators preferred the power of the Detroit Diesel 6V-53N or the Cummins V-555; this policy was amended in 1987 when Ford began cataloging its Brazilian-built 7.8L turbodiesel six, already in use in the European-designed Cargo COE). A 210 hp version of the same engine was optional (this was rated 200 hp in California), as was a 225 hp turbo version (210 hp in California).

~Ben